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About POOSH

POOSH Scotland conveys information to and from the Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland (PHASS). PHASS was set up by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), and is supported by Scottish and UK Ministers.

POOSH Scotland was established in 2005 at the request of PHASS, to promote co-ordinated action to improve workplace health and safety in Scotland. It brings together a wide variety of bodies whose aim is to improve occupational health and safety in the workplace, and provides direct input to how the HSC's UK-wide strategy for workplace health and safety is being taken forward in Scotland.

POOSH Scotland provides a similar framework to POOSH in England and Wales (external site), which exists to promote the continuous improvement of the practice of occupational safety and health through education, communication, and the encouragement of co-operation between all persons and agencies involved in the provision of a healthy and safe working environment.

POOSH Scotland meets three times per year to share information, exchange details of current initiatives and to forward plans.

Research and consultation activities

The leading example of this to date is the report Mapping Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Professional Body Activities in Scotland.

The purpose of the report is to:

provide guidance, in particular, for small- and medium-sized businesses on where they can go for competent advice and how to select what advice is needed

provide a source of reference material for regulators, service providers and professionals to signpost potential clients

encourage and support professionals from related disciplines to broaden their range of skills and qualifications for application in the world of work

provoke and generate a debate about Scotland's occupational safety and health professions: where capacity might need building; and in what direction it should develop to support the agenda on what makes 'good work'.